Warren Buffett is trying Build-A-Bear.
Jazzwares, the Berkshire Hathaway-owned maker of the popular Squishmallows stuffed animal, sued Bill-A-Bear Workshop on Monday, giving it a new name. Skoosherz plush line “Counterfeit products” that infringe on intellectual property rights.
Not to be outdone, Bill-A-Bear filed its own lawsuit against Jazzwear on Monday, alleging that Scooshers is based on the company’s existing plush toys and that advertising and marketing since its launch last month has raised questions about who made them. He claimed it was obvious.
The dispute marks Jazzwear’s latest effort to protect Squishmallow from allegations of counterfeiting and counterfeiting, including a lawsuit against online retail platform Alibaba.
Squashmallows have joined the ranks of the world’s most popular toys after going viral on TikTok and gaining fans like Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian.
Both companies have been part of Berkshire since Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate acquired Jazzwear’s parent company, insurance holding company Allegany, in October 2022.
Jazzwear sued Build-A-Bear in Los Angeles federal court.
The paper said Bill-A-Bear “blatantly and intentionally” used Squishmallows’ “fanciful representations” of animals, “simplified cute Asian faces” and “velvety velor”. It said that by imitating the look and feel, the company had damaged its goodwill and caused significant confusion among consumers. “ish” fabric.
“When it comes to intellectual property rights, imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery,” Moez Kaba, Jazzware’s lawyer, said in a statement.
However, according to Bill-A-Bear’s lawsuit in St. Louis federal court, Squishmallows lack a consistent look and feel, and Squisherz is no match for the trending “soft pillow-like squishy” toys. It is said that it is only the latest type. Year.
Build-A-Bear said it launched Scoushers ahead of Valentine’s Day, February 14, to tap into the market for stuffed animals with a “unique style that provides an optimal hugging effect.”
Neither Build-A-Bear nor its attorney immediately responded to requests for additional comment.
Jazwares is asking Build-A-Bear to stop selling Skoosherz and similar products and pay unspecified treble damages.
Build-A-Bear is seeking a court declaration that it has not violated Squishmallows’ jazzwear “trade dress” rights and that such rights are unenforceable.
Suxmallow was created by Kelly Toys in 2016.
Four years later, Jazwares purchased a majority stake in the company.
